I don’t know how many times I wore a dress in 2011. Maybe once?

And I find that incredibly tragic.

Mostly because I’m finding out how magical I feel when I step into a dress that fits my body and feels right in every way.

And since this year is going to be the year of Presence and Pleasure for me, I’m going a little bit crazy in the clothes department and I’m making it a goal for the rest of the year to wear only dresses (skirts are included because they possess the same magick for me), if I can help it.

Oh yes, I’m totally embracing my crazy this year. Join me?

The Why: It Feels Good

If you missed it above, I’ll say it again: wearing dresses (and skirts) instantly make me feel beautiful. And just because I’m a mama who wipes poopy butts for my day job among many other things does not mean I don’t want to feel beautiful. I grew up believing in Doing Good. And I still do. But now I marry it with Feeling Good. They just go together, you know?

And so I hereby declare it the Year of the Dress simply because it feels so dang good.

The Why: It’s Art

Dressing up (almost) everyday also gives me another outlet for my creativity. It is arguably an everyday art form. It’s a way to express ourselves and I’m going to squeeze every possible opportunity I can in any given day to do just that. Especially as mamas, we are constantly nourishing and giving out energy. Art that speaks to us feeds our souls, and if dressing up puts some sparkle back in our eyes? Why the heck not?

The Why: It Matters

Dressing up (almost) everyday forces me out of my auto-pilot mood when I get ready in the morning. It’s as if I’m sending big bold message to myself and to the universe in this intentional act. And that message is this: that I matter. That My Presence matters. That My Pleasure matters. This seemingly small choice, this seemingly insignificant moment standing before the mirror and deciding how to dress myself, matters.

And where this message counts the most is what our little ones take away from it. Especially our daughters. See the next Why.

The Why: It’s Feminine Empowerment

I’m also on a journey towards returning to my Feminine Essence, something many of us women have lost touch with living still in a heavily patriarchal world (sadly). We’ve fought to be equals with men, but on their terms and not ours. We literally reshaped our feminine body to fit in a man’s world in so many spirit-numbing ways. While reconnecting with my Feminine Essence does not mean that I should be obsessed about my body, it does mean that I care for it as I would any other gift given to me.

 

The How: Almost Everyday

I tend to aim for the impossible, and originally, my plan was to wear a dress every single day of the year. But I’m learning to be a bit more realistic so that my grandiose plans can be more sustainable. So instead of the Daily Dress Challenge, I’m calling this one the Year of the Dress Challenge. I’m aiming for wearing a dress (or again, a skirt) 4-5 times a week. I’m going to dress up as if I’m going to work outside the home during the weekdays. I’ll be saving my jeans and sneakers for those times I know I need to get really dirty or sweaty.

The How: Thrifted and Handmade

I try to be a conscious spender and this challenge is not about sanctioning a shopping spree every week. I’m mostly relying on my current stash of clothes (although I did update my wardrobe most recently for this particular challenge.)

I’m pretty aware of labor and environmental issues surrounding the fashion industry. I love People Tree, but sadly, I can’t afford their stuff just yet. So I’m mostly counting on my second-hand finds. I’m also (slowly) learning how to sew and the plan is to sew my own clothes in the distant future!

The How: Your Participation In The Sisterhood

If you are a mama who hardly pays attention to how you dress yourself, maybe this one is for you. If any of my Whys resonate with you in some shape or form, take heed. Pay attention. Maybe it’s time to focus on this much neglected area in your life. To reclaim your Beauty. Will you join me in declaring that our Presence and our Pleasure matters?

I’ll be taking photos of what my outfits and sharing them here weekly. I’ll also be sharing the inner journey along the way. And I hope you do too. You can simply share your link to your photo or post in the comments section. I’ll be sure to read them all and maybe do a recap of all the entries the following week. You can also join me on Instagram if you have an Iphone and simply snap away your photo of the day with the hashtag #yearofthedress #whatiwore.

I don’t want to do this alone. I really want other like-hearted mamas to do this with. Oh wait a minute. Others are already doing it. Like Megan.

Anyone else out there?

Don’t be shy! Come play with me! And let me know in the comment section below if you want to join the Year of The Dress Edition. You can alter/bend/flex the rules as you see fit. However way it pleases you. My intention is to create more Presence and Pleasure in our lives and hopefully this is one small and (did I mention super fun?) way to do so.

If you have a blog and want to join me, here’s a little button you can use  to spread the word:

Copy and Paste Code

<a href="http://anourishinghome.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://anourishinghome.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/e43341143e4411e19896123138142014_7-1-e1327272758129.jpg" alt="" /></a>

So who’s brave enough to join me?